Phonographic apparatus



Nov. 27, 1962 TAKESHl AOKI 3,065,972

PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. 74K5/// Aak/ AGE 7 1962 I TAKESHI AOKl 4 3,065,972

' PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :7 I0 I23 I24 [7 -Pi J37 I20 I22 I36 i 155 W AGE/V/ United States Patent 3,065,972 PHONOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Takeshi Aoki, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to Fujiya Electric (10., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Filed Feb. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 8,675 4 Claims. (Cl. 274-9) This invention relates to phonographic apparatus, and more particularly to means for rotating a turntable at any selected one of a plurality of predetermined speeds.

In the present day phonographic art it is quite common to provide a turntable driving means for driving the turntable at any one of several speeds, such as 16 /3, 33 /3, 45 and 78 r.p.m.

An object of this invention is the provision of a practical means whereby a phonograph turntable may be rotated at any selected one of a plurality of speeds.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an idler wheel which can be adjusted vertically whereby any selected one of a plurality of driving ratios may be obtained.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a motor operated driving Wheel having a plurality of diameters and a single rotary means operating to move an idler wheel selectively into operative engagement with a particular diameter and with the turntable.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of means to move an idler wheel toward and away from a driving wheel and also for moving the idler wheel vertically or axially of the driving wheel in at least ,one direction while the idler wheel is disengaged from the driving wheel. An object of this invention includes the provision of an idler wheel having a plurality of diameters axially arranged thereon for selective engagement with a turntable.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of rotary cam means for moving an idler wheel away from a driving wheel, and for moving the idler wheel axially of the driving wheel, in one direction, while so positioned, biasing means being provided for moving the idler wheel toward the driving wheel and axially in the opposite direction. I

The above and other objects will become apparent on consideration of thefollowing specification taken with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the novel speed adjusting means with parts broken away;

FIG. 1A is a partial plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1 wherein the idler wheel is shown in the off position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a modification;

FIG. 6A is a fragmentary view taken on the line 3,065,972 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 acters of reference throughout the several views. Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5, a frame supports a driving motor 21, having a shaft 22. The shaft 22, as shown has a drive wheel 23 thereon, having, as shown, a plurality of diameters 24, 25 and 26, 24 being the largest and 26 being the smallest.

A turntable 27 is rotatably mounted on a boss 28. The turntable 27 has a downturned flange 29. The outer surface of the turntable is provided with a cover 27 of elastomeric material, to provide a friction surface. it lever 30 is rotatably and slidably mounted intermediate its ends on a pin 31. A helical spring 32 surrounds the pin 31 and urges the lever 30 toward the frame 20. The

spring 32 is retained on the pin 31 by means of a washer 33 and a split ring 34. The lever 30 is pivotally connected to a floating arm 35 mounted on the pivot pin 36. The arm 35 has a U-shaped rear end 37 providing upper and lower bearings 38 and 39, respectively, for the pin 36. The forward or outer end of the floating arm 35 is provided with a pin 40 on which an idler wheel 41 is rotatably mounted. The idler wheel 41 is retained by means of a split ring 42. The idler wheel 41 is provided with a resilient tire or rim 43, formed of rubber or other suitable elastomeric material, for 'frictional engagement with the driving wheel 23 and the inner surface of the flange29 of the turntable 27. The

6A--6A of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of selective variable speed drive; and

In the drawings, like parts are represented by like charfloating arm is urged in a direction to press the idler wheel against the driving wheel 23 and the turntable flange 29 by means of a tension spring 44 which is anchored at one end to the end of the arm 35 and at the other end to the frame 20. An opening 45 is provided in the frame 20 to accommodate the wheel 41 and the arm 35.

Movement is imparted to the lever 30 by means of a cam 46 of generally cylindrical configuration having lobes 47, 48 and 49 at substantially equal radial distances on its generally cylindrical surface or envelope. Between pairs of lobes there are depressions 50, 51 and 52 at substantial equal radial distances. A pin 53 mounted on the free end of the lever 30 rides on the surface comprising the lobes and depressions. The cam 46 has a shaft 54 extending through the plate 20 and on which a knob 55 is mountedfor rotating the cam. Rotation of the cam 46 by means of the knob 55 causes a swinging movement of the lever 30 about its pivot 31 and as the pin 53 rides out on the lobes 47, 48 and 49, the idler wheel 41 is pulled away from the driving wheel 23.

An axially extending cam surface 56 having a high point 57 and a low point 58 is provided on the lower end of the cam 46. The surface 56 of .the cam 46 slopes both ways from the high point 57 to the low point 58.

The high point 57 is substantially on a radius from the lobe 48 and the low point 53 is approximately diametrically opposite. A pin 59 on the end ofthe lever 30, adjacent the pin 53, engages the cam surface 56 and rotation of the cam 46' causes vertical shifting of the lever 30 on the pivot 31. A spring pressed plunger 69, mounted in a boss 6-1 on the upper face of the cam 46 engages selectively in stops 62, 63, 64 and 65 in the frame 20, to retain the cam 46' in selectively adjusted position. When the pin 61 rests in the stop 65, the idler wheel 41 is away from the drive Wheel and is approaching its lowest level to engage the driving surface 24. This is the off position. By rotation of the cam so that the pin 61 engages the top 62 the pin 59 will be on the high point 57 and the idler wheel will engage the surface 24 to drive the turntable 27 at its highest speed. Further rotation of the cam 46 in a clockwise direction, in FIGS. 1 and 4, first moves the idler wheel away from the driving wheel 23 then under the influence of the spring 31 and the surface 56, the lever will ride upwardly until the pin 53 engages the depression 51, and

the idler wheel 41 engages the intermediate driving surface 25. Further clockwise rotation moves the idler wheel 41 again away from the driving wheel 23, and it is forced upwardly by the spring 31 until it is returned to the driving wheel 23, on the surface 26, by virtue of the pin 53 dropping into the depression 50, whereupon the turntable will be rotated at the lowest speed possible with this arrangement.

In FIG. 6, I show a slight modification, wherein frame 120 supports a motor 121 having a driving shaft 122 and a driving wheel 123. The driving wheel 123 has steps 124, 125 and 126, similar to the steps 24, 25 and 26. The turntable 127 has a downturned flange 129. A lever 130 is rotatably and slidably mounted intermediate its ends on the pin 131. A compression spring 132 surrounds the pin 131 and is retained by means of a washer 1'33 and a split ring 134. The floating arm 135 is mounted on a pivot 136 on one end of the lever 136 and has a U-shaped end 137 like the end 37 of the lever 35. The free end of the arm 135 carries a pin 14d rotatably supporting an idler wheel 141 like the idler wheel 41.

A cam .146, similar to the cam 46 is mounted on the plate 120 and has a shaft 154. The cam 146 has a generally cylindrical surface shaped to provide a lobe 147 to engage a pin 153 like pin 53 and to move the lever in a direction to draw the idler wheel away from the drive wheel 123. The surface of the cam 146, other than the tube 147, is substantially cylindrical. The axially extending cam portions 156 provide a high point 157 and a low point 158. The surface 156 engages the pin 159 to force the lever 130 downwardly. A stop pin 160, like the stop pin 60, is provided in the upper surface of the cam 146 and engages suitable stops, as described in connection with the cam 46. A shaft 154 on the cam 146 is rotatably mounted in the plate 120 and a knob 155 is provided thereon for turning the cam 146.

The driving wheel 123 is provided between the steps 124 and 125 with a tapered portion 170 and between the steps 125 and 1126 with a tapered portion 171. As the cam 146 is rotated from the position where the pin 159 engages the high portion 157 to the position where said pin 159 engages the low portion 158, the idler wheel, under the influence of the spring 132 slides upwardly along the driving wheel 123 and is assisted in its movements by the tapered portions .170 and 171.

The modification of FIG. 7 embodies a modified driving wheel and idler wheel. Here the motor 221 is mounted on the frame or plate 220. A cam, which may be the cam 46 or the cam .146, preferably the latter, is used to impart the swinging and vertical sliding motion to the lever 230. The floating arm 235 is pivotally mounted on the pin 236 mounted on the end of the lever 230, by means of the U-shaped end 237, as mentioned for the floating arm 35. The idler wheel 241 is rotatably mounted on a pin 240 on the free end of the floating arm 235. The motor shaft 222 has a conical drive wheel 22-3 mounted thereon. The idler wheel has two tires, one, 273 being conical for engagement with the driving wheel 233, and the tire 274 being cylindrical for engagement with the flange 229 of the turntable 227. In this modification the movements of the idler wheel 241 are like those of the idler wheel 141 above described. In FIG. 8, a third modified form of drive is shown. Here the motor 321 is mounted on the frame or plate 320 and has a drive shaft 322. A cylindrical drive wheel 323 is mounted on the shaft 322. A swinging lever 330, like the lever 30, is moved laterally and vertically by means of a cam like the cam 46 or the cam 146. The floating arm 335 is mounted on one end of the lever 330 by means of the U-shaped end 337 and the pin 336 as described for the lever 30 and the floating arm 35. At the free end of the floating arm 335 there is a pin 340 on which the idler wheel 341 is mounted. The idler wheel "341 has, in this case three tires, 375, 376 and 377. The tire 375 is in engagement with the driving wheel 323 in all positions of adjustment except the off position. In the uppermost or fast position the tire 375 also engages the flange 329 of the turntable 327, as the lever 330 is moved downwardly, the tire 375 disengages from the flange 329, in the intermediate drive position the tire 376 is in engagement with the flange 329, in the low speed drive position the tire 377 is an engagement with the flange 329. In this modification, the movements of the idler wheel 341 are preferably like those of the idler wheel 41, above described, though they may be like those of the idler wheel 141 also described above.

Operation In the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, assuming the OH position of FIG. 1A, rotation of the knob 55 clockwise will cause the pin 59 to ride down to the lowest point 58 on the cam 46, and the pin 53 will drop in the depression 52 between the lobes 47 and 48. This allows the idler wheel 46 to be pulled toward the step 24 on the driving wheel 23 and toward the turntable flange 29, for the highest speed. Additional rotation of the knob 55 clockwise causes the lobe 48 to engage the pin 53 to pull the idler wheel 41 away from the drive wheel 23 and during further rotation the pin 59 rides upwardly on the cam, under the influence of the spring 32, to an intermediate position and subsequently the knob is stopped by the pin 60 engaging the stop 63. The idler wheel 41 is drawn back toward the step 25 of the drive wheel 23, by means of the spring 44. Additional rotation of the knob 55 clockwise causes the pin 53 to engage the lobe 49 and to draw the idler wheel 41 away from the driving wheel, then the pin 59 rides upwardly on the cam 46 to the low point as the pin 53 drops into the depression and the stop pin 60 engages the stop 64 to return the idler wheel 41 to step 26 of the driving wheel 23 for the lowest driving speed. Further clockwise rotation of the knob brings the mechanism again to the off position.

It is believed that the similarity of the other modifications in FIGS. 6, 6A, 7 and 8 with the above described embodiment will render their operation clear, when the description thereof is considered, wherein the departures from the preferred form are set out.

I have described my invention in a preferred form with certain other modifications, however, it is to be understood that other modifications may be made within the skill of the art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a phonographic apparatus, a frame, a motor having a driving shaft and a driving wheel thereon mounted on said frame, a turntable rotatably mounted on said frame having a downwardly extending flange, a friction wheel adapted to transfer torque from said driving wheel to the flange of said turntable, one of said wheels having a plurality of diameters, whereby the turntable may be driven at a plurality of speeds, means for mounting said friction wheel for movement axially of said driving shaft and laterally toward and away from said driving shaft, said means comprising a vertically movable swinging lever having a pivot intermediate its ends, a floating arm pivoted at one end on one end of said swinging lever, said friction wheel being mounted on the other end of said floating arm, a single cam device rotatable about a vertical axis and having a plurality of surfaces engageable with the free end of said swinging lever to move said lever and said friction wheel toward and away from said driving shaft, said cam device having other cam surfaces engageable with the end of said swinging lever to move said lever and said friction wheel axially of said driving shaft while said wheel is disengaged from said driving shaft.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1, including a first spring means biasing said lever upwardly, and a second spring means biasing the floating arm toward the driving wheel and the flange of the turntable.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the wheel on the driving wheel has a plurality of diameters, decreasing from the lowermost diameter.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the friction wheel has a plurality of diameters decreasing upwardly from the lowermost diameter, and wherein the largest portion engages the driving wheel at all positions of elevation, and wherein said largest portion and each of the smaller portions is selectively engageable with the turntable flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Williamson Aug. 14, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS France Sept. 9, 1949 France Apr. 2, 1957 France Jan. 29, 1959 

